The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA-RFO 02) leads the inauguration of its Plant Genetic Resources Center (PGRC) that will cater to the conservation of collected germplasm of major crops in Cagayan Valley.
Said activity was part of the two-day Panagdadapun cum 1st Makan Festival which was conducted at DA-Cagayan Valley Research Center (CVRC) Annex, Baligatan, City of Ilagan, Isabela.
“This facility is a must for the department,” said Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) Executive Director Nicomedes Eleazar who served as Guest Speaker.
“We need to preserve our seeds for future use of genetic materials and crop improvement.”
The center was erected through the funding assistance of BAR to DA-RFO 02.
According to Regional Executive Director Lorenzo M. Caranguian of DA-RFO 02, the facility is open to farmers, state colleges and universities and other institutions who are keeping corn, palay and vegetable seeds and wanted to preserve these.
“We have seed vault and refrigerators that are capable of storing five to ten years,” he said.
“Together with BAR, we are proposing to expand the center’s services so we can have a sustainable operation in the years to come.”